Blue Springs woman sentenced in fraud conspiracy

A Blue Springs woman and a Bates City man were two of five sentenced Tuesday in federal court for their roles in a $400,000 fraud conspiracy.

Roberta Anne Welty, 28, of Blue Springs, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $4,271 in restitution for her role in the conspiracy that used identity documents, checks and credit cards found in stolen vehicles or taken from vehicles to make fraudulent purchases and to obtain drugs.

Jason R. Thompson, 30, of Bates City, received a sentence of 21 years and 10 months without parole and was ordered to pay $45,012 in restitution for being the mastermind of the conspiracy.

Thompson pleaded guilty on Feb. 7 to leading the conspiracy to illegally transport stolen vehicles and to commit bank fraud, access device fraud, identity theft and wire fraud from October 2007 to January 2008. He also pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.

Thompson admitted he stole 10 vehicles in November and December 2007. He also admitted to possession and transport of several other stolen vehicles, and that he stole checks, credit cards and other identity documents from other vehicles.

On Dec. 23, 2007, Thompson stole two vehicles in Independence, pilfered documents from a vehicle in Lee’s Summit and stole another vehicle in Lee’s Summit and transported it to Overland Park, Kan. He also stole two vehicles in Overland Park, pilfered documents from two more in Overland Park and transported one of the stolen vehicles back to Missouri. On Dec. 24, 2007, he stole a vehicle in Lenexa, Kan., and transported it to Independence and pilfered documents from nine other vehicles in Lenexa.

On Oct. 19, 2007, Thompson attempted to purchase $1,201 of merchandise from the Kohl’s store in Independence with a stolen credit card. He also possessed stolen Social Security cards, other stolen credit cards, a stolen driver’s license and stolen personal checks from other victims, which he used to purchase or attempted to purchase at several other area retail businesses.

Also sentenced Tuesday were Christopher L. Curd, 29, and his brother, Robert A. Curd, 30, both of Kansas City; and Brandi N. Neely, 32, of Arnold, Mo. Christopher Curd received one year and one day in prison and was ordered to pay $3,584 in restitution; Robert Curd was sentenced to 15 months and ordered to pay $3,560; and Neely got 14 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,055 in restitution.

Co-defendants Jennifer J. Leone, 34, and Nicholas E. Dobbins, 24, both of Kansas City, pleaded guilty earlier and have already been sentenced. Melinda R. Kermer, 27, of Raytown, had pleaded guilty but is still awaiting sentencing.